Wales is still the place to be when you want to be beside the sea according to this year's best beach awards.

Wales is still the place to be when you want to be beside the sea according to this year's best beach awards.

Ninety-eight beaches in Wales will fly blue and yellow flags awarded by environmental charity ENCAMS for clean sands and top-notch facilities, it was announced today.

This is out of a record-breaking total of 317 beaches which have passed strict criteria on beach management - including providing first aid, clean toilets and ensuring access and facilities for disabled visitors at each resort.

The Environment Agency tests bathing water quality and only those beaches that have passed the EU minimum legal standards are eligible for the award.

ENCAMS is making an impassioned plea to the public to start backing beaches by visiting and promoting them.

Alan Woods, chief executive of ENCAMS, said: "Tourism is one of the largest industries in the UK and is worth approximately #75 billion a year.

"It also employs over two million people.

"By visiting one of our award-winning beaches this summer, you will be helping to keep that industry and many local economies afloat.

"Whether visiting a resort with the family or strolling along a rural beach, you will also be able to look forward to clean sands and good facilities - not something you would necessarily have found at the British coast a decade ago."

This year's record haul of flags completes a steady rise in award-winners since the scheme began in 1992 when only 92 made the grade.

The total is up nine on last year with most of the gains being made along the English Riviera, with four new winners coming from Torbay alone.

Scotland, Yorkshire and the south east of England have also made gains while the east of England, the Channel Islands, the north east and the East Midlands have maintained the number of flags they achieved last year.

A handful of beaches in the north west and Northern Ireland have not made the grade this time.

Among those beaches that won an award in 1992, and have received them every year since, are Southend, Eastbourne, Benone Strand (Northern Ireland), Poole, Tenby and Scarborough.

ENCAMS also carried out a full survey of its award-winning resort beaches.

Each was examined for a variety of issues, including cleanliness, access, safety provision, dog control, facilities, maintenance and information.

The standards were marked out of 100, with this score then transferred into a grade range from A (superbly managed) to D (badly looked after).

Sixty-one beaches were awarded Grade A.

Alan Woods added: "Over the last five years, public awareness of the Seaside Awards has increased by around 30% and it has clearly become a recognised mark of achievement, much sought after by Britain's beach managers and I really think that's why standards have improved so much along our coastline.

"While there is still much to be done, the time has come for all of us to stop being embarrassed about our beaches and start celebrating them for what they are - a viable option for tourists here and from overseas.

"The tired old cliches about Britain's coastline being unattractive, its beaches dirty and its facilities antiquated, should be consigned to the past where they belong."

The Seaside Awards flags will be presented at a special ceremony in Swansea on March 18.